ECA Program – a private military consultancy firm that was recently given the green light to begin operations in Iceland – is offering the general public rides in a troop transport plane to see the Fimmvörðuháls eruption. The Campaign Against Militarism calls the PR stunt “an insult to Easter”.
Vísir reports that in a statement sent to the press, the company says that it wants to improve the negative image the company has had so far in Iceland. To this end, it will be flying two Hercules troop transport planes to Reykjavík airport at 14:30 today, offering the general public flights to see the volcano. Only up to 250 people will be allowed onto the planes.
Stefán Pálsson, chairman of the Campaign Against Militarism, calls the PR stunt “an insult to Easter”, adding, “We expect to have the Church of Iceland and the Bishop with us to protest this strongly.” Pálsson encourages people to go to the airport today to protest the planes arrival as well.
In addition, the planes are not registered in Iceland, so their flying in Icelandic airspace is, in fact, illegal.
By the way, today is 1 April. Just throwing that out there.